Happy Weekend
This is the first of a two-part trailer post so the second part comes tomorrow.
I’ve upped my film watching again and I’m writing reviews more consistently. I really want to cover another video game. I’m playing The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky and it hasn’t been super-inspirational or original but the detail dialogue and character interactions are entertaining.
Anyway, back to films.
What are the first batch of films released this weekend?
Adulthood Friends 
おとななじみ 「Otona Najimi」
Release Date: May 12th, 2023
Duration: 113 mins.
Director: Hiroto Takahashi
Writer: Erika Yoshida (Screenplay), Aya Nakahara (Original Manga)
Starring: Mizuki Inoue, Rinka Kumada, Riku Hagiwara, Nana Asakawa, Natsumi Okamoto, Akiko Kikuchi,
Synopsis: Haru and Kaede have been neighbour and friends ever since they began living next door to each other. Kaeda has also harboured a crush on Haru but he acts oblivious to her feelings. When Kaeda talks to her friend Iori about her situation, he confesses his feelings for her and she decides to ditch Haru. This prompts Haru to re-examine his feelings for Kaeda. It turns out that there is a reason he has ignored her romantic overtures…
Gekijouban Oshi ga Budoukan itte Kuretara Shinu 
劇場版 推しが武道館いってくれたら死ぬ 「Gekijouban Oshi ga Budoukan itte Kuretara Shinu」
Release Date: May 12th, 2023
Duration: 113 mins.
Director: Kentaro Ohtani
Writer: Kumiko Motoyama (Screenplay), Auri Hirao (Original Manga)
Starring: Sayuri Matsumura, Himena Irei, Riho Nakamura, Miu Wada, MOMO, KANO, Karen Negishi,
Synopsis: After Eripiyo sees idol group ChamJam performing, her mind is blown. Specifically, it is idol girl Maina Ichii, the least popular member of the group, who has her attention. Thus, Eripiyo buys as many goods related to her and go to as many concerts as possible. and this almost bankrupts her. That written, she does get some benefits like a new friend circle who partakes in idol culture, but maintaining her fandom is hard and Maina is concerned with the lengths that Eripiyo goes…
Shizukananaru Don – Part 1 
静かなるドン 前編 「Shizukananaru Don Zenpen」
Release Date: May 12th, 2023
Duration: 113 mins.
Director: Kento Yamaguchi
Writer: Riuji Yoshizaki, Kento Yamaguchi (Screenplay), Tatsuo Nitta (Original Manga)
Starring: Kentaro Ito, Miwako Kakei, Takahiro Konishi, Susumu Terajima, Yoshimi Tachi, Hiroto Honda, Mariko Tsutsui, Chika Uchida, Motoko Fukami,
Synopsis: Shizuya Kondo is the only son of the leader of the Kanto region’s largest yakuza gang, the Shinsengumi. Despite this, Shizuya walks away from the life and takes up work as an underwear designer. Now no longer a carnivore and living the life of a herbivore, he finds contentment but when his father is assassinated, Shizuya agrees to take the reins of the clan but he also tries to maintain his day job and that means hiding his criminal alter-ego form his work colleagues…
Go! Go! Sakura Club 
それいけ！ゲートボールさくら組 「Sore Ike! Ge-tobo-ru Sakuragumi」
Release Date: May 12th, 2023
Duration: 107 mins.
Director: Takanori Noda
Writer: Takanori Noda (Screenplay), Tatsuo Nitta (Original Manga)
Starring: Tatsuya Fuji, Saburo Ishikura, Misato Tanaka, Masaaki Daimon, Koji Moritsugu, Ichiro Ogura, Miyu Honda, Karin Yamaguchi,
Tatsuya Fuji (Let Him Rest in Peace, In the Realm of the Senses) takes on his first film role since entering his 80s.
Synopsis: Momojiro Oda is 76 but that doesn’t mean he is going to slow down. When an old friend who managed his high school rugby team is on the verge of losing his daycare business, Momojiro recruits his fellow teammates to help rescue the business. The method? A gateball tournament where they can advertise the daycare. Cue old men playing sports.
Nagisa 
なぎさ 「Nagisa」
Release Date: May 12th, 2023
Duration: 87 mins.
Director: Takeshi Kogahara
Writer: Takeshi Kogahara (Script),
Starring: Yuzu Aoki, Nanami Yamazaki, Kana Kita,
Building on his 2018 short film of the same name, Takeshi Kogahara’s debut feature is all about overcoming grief. It played at the Tokyo International Film Festival last year. It stars Yuzu Aoki (Sacrifice, Ice Cream and the Sound of Raindrops) and Kana Kita (Shindo – The Beat Knocks Her World)
Synopsis: A young man who left his sister Nagisa behind in a broken home is burdened with guilt after her death. He encounters her ghost in the tunnel in which she died. He returns again and again to the tunnel and re-experiences the past as he searches for Nagisa. 
Life is Climbing! 
ライフ・イズ・クライミング！ 「Raifu izu Kuraimingu!」
Release Date: May 12th, 2023
Duration: 89 mins.
Director: Sokichi Nakahara
Writer: N/A
Starring: Koichiro Kobayashi, Naoya Suzuki, Kiyofumi Nishiyama, Erik Weihenmayer,
Synopsis: This is a documentary that follows a visually impaired climber named Koichiro Kobayashi and his partner Naoya Suzuki. Koichiro climbs with the aid of Naoya and in 2021, they travelled to Utah, in the United States, to climb the Fisher Towers. They also meet another blind climber, Erik Weihenmayer, Koichiro’s mentor.
Let It Be: Fear Never Ends (Into the Dreams…and Horror Experiences 2) 
レット・イット・ビー 怖いものは、やはり怖い（夢判断、そして恐怖体験へ2） 「 Retto Itto Bi: Kowaimono wa, Yahari Kowai (Yume Handan, Soshite Kyoufu Taiken e 2)」
Release Date: May 12th, 2023
Duration: 96 mins.
Director: Takayuki Okutsu
Writer: Ryuho Okawa (Original Creator)
Starring: Ryo Aoki, Mei Yamagishi, Nao Hasegawa, Yoshiko Sengen, Shiro Namiki,
A film made by the Happy Science Cult.
Synopsis: This is the continuation of a series that follows a psychological counsellor named Keiji Kamiyama. In this instalment, he is commissioned by a TV studio to do a spiritual reading on a student who has experienced something supernatural. Keiji detects something supernatural, alright, and this convinces sceptic TV announcer Chisato Aoyama who joins Keiji in the world of the supernatural as spooky events start happening around her and then… to her!